Stamford Bridge hosts a special Champions League night as Jose Mourinho returns to his old fortress with Benfica. For Chelsea, it is about recovery after a disappointing start in Europe. For Benfica, it is about seizing the moment under their legendary new coach.
Chelsea arrives in difficult form. A 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League game and a weekend defeat to Brighton have raised concerns. Injuries continue to pile up, leaving Enzo Maresca with limited options. Still, the manager struck a respectful tone ahead of the match: “It will be a privilege to face Jose. A legend for this club, not only for this club but for different clubs.”
Mourinho’s Benfica also stumbled in their opening UCL clash, collapsing from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 against Qarabag. That result cost Bruno Lage his job and opened the door for Mourinho’s return. The ‘Special One’ has since steadied the Eagles with two wins and a draw in the Primeira Liga, and he knows the emotions at play in London: “Chelsea was a winning machine. Every season, Chelsea was winning. For one that loves the club, it was hard to watch when it lost direction. But this game is about Benfica, and we are here to compete.”Vangelis Pavlidis will be Benfica’s main threat, scoring twice at the weekend to take his tally to seven for the season. Chelsea, meanwhile, needs a lift from Joao Pedro and their young attacking core to break their three-game losing streak in the Champions League proper.
Chelsea vs Benfica: Key Stats
Head-to-head: Chelsea 5 wins, Benfica 0 wins, 0 draws
Chelsea: Lost last 3 Champions League matches
Chelsea: Unbeaten at home in UCL group stage since 2019
Benfica: 5 wins from last 6 away UCL games
Benfica: Conceding only 0.60 goals on average in UCL
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) 🔵: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Estevao, Buonanotte, Garnacho; Pedro
Benfica (4-2-3-1) 🔴: Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, A. Silva, Dahl; Barrenechea, Rios; Lukebakio, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
Players and Matchups to Watch
🔹 Enzo Fernández: Faces his former club in a pivotal midfield role
🔹 Jose Mourinho: The homecoming figure, still commanding attention
🔹 Enzo Maresca: Under pressure to deliver in Europe after a tough start
Odds Market on MSport
💵 Benfica to win: 5.29
💵 Draw: 4.21
💵 Over 2.5 Goals: 1.66
💵 Pavlidis Anytime Goalscorer: 3.69
💵 Estevao Anytime Goalscorer: 3.10
Mourinho’s return guarantees drama, but this is more than nostalgia. Chelsea need points, Benfica need belief, and both clubs are still searching for their rhythm in Europe. Stamford Bridge will decide whether it is a story of homecoming triumph or a restless night for the Blues.
_large.png)
